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The local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is lacking running water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the area revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.